Tropical, Port of Palm Beach host agri-inspection workshop
With Caribbean produce comprising an increasingly important portion of imports through the Port of Palm Beach, the port and anchor tenant Tropical Shipping have teamed up to help importers avoid problems related to inspections of inbound fruits and vegetables.
The port and the steamship line teamed up to present a workshop for Tropical's produce shippers, with officials from Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on hand to help explain the best methods for bringing produce into the country.
The workshop was an open forum in which experts gave presentations to importers, then answered questions.
'The goal was to make the process run smoothly and to reduce the amount of time involved in the inspection and clearance process to get the produce to get to the shelves quicker,' said Stephanie Duncan, Tropical's transportation compliance manager.
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Tropical Shipping Hispaniola trade manager Geoff Thurston addressed importers during a workshop on efficient produce import practices at the Port of Palm Beach. |
Speakers addressed Customs' responsibilities, the inspection process, container stowage, the USDA bug identification process, fumigation prevention, and wood packaging regulations. Port representatives also reviewed the process from the port's point of view.
'The Port of Palm Beach is committed to working with CBP and APHIS to insure compliance, ease inspections, and expedite results by resolving impediments and improving service to our customers,' said Kathy Andress, Port of Palm Beach deputy director.